Albania signs SAA with EU
Uncategorized Monday, June 12th, 2006
“The last century was marked by unjust and unmerited fragmentations, invasions, racism and ethnic cleansing, as well as harsh dictatorships which totally isolated the country from Europe. June 12 is a blessed day in the history my country, a day that reflects its great efforts toward freedom and a European identity,” Prime Minister Berisha said during the signing ceremony.
EU’s Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, said: “This Agreement ensures a clear framework in fulfilling the standards and legalizes the path which, from now on, Albania should follow”.
Signing of the SAA is expected to have immediate effects for Albania’s foreign trade. According to the agreement, Albanian custom tariffs for industrial products imported from the EU zone will become zero upon entering in force of the SAA. This in turn will have a negative effect on public revenue estimated at about EUR 65 million for the next year.
During the last year, about 63 percent of imports and 94 percent of exports were carried out with EU countries.
The SAA must now be ratified by the EU bloc's 25 national parliaments before it enters into force, but an interim agreement on trade signed the same day will enable trade-related SAA clauses to immediately kick-in.
Short URL: http://www.albanianeconomy.com/news/?p=157
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on Jun 12 2006. Filed under Uncategorized.
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